Plant Gardens 101

Mint family
Labiatae
Per-rill’a. A small genus of tender herbaceous annuals, natives of e. Asia.

Description
Leaves green or dark reddish brown, in opposite pairs, inversely heart-shaped. Flowers small, in pairs, borne in the axils or bracts in terminal racemes.

How to Grow  
Sow seeds indoors in late winter or early spring. Transplant outdoors after last frost. Or sow outdoors after danger of frost is over. Self-sows in warm areas. Frequently escapes and becomes a weed. Prefers warm weather.

Perilla frutescens
Beefsteak Plant . To 3 ft. (90 cm) high. Leaves green on both sides, occasionally marked reddish brown, slightly wrinkled, the margins slightly toothed, 3-6 in. (7.5-15.0 cm) long. Flowers small, 3-8 in a raceme, the corolla white, sometimes tinged red. India and Japan. Cultivar ‘Atropurpurea’ has dark purple leaves. Cultivar ‘Crispa’ has deeply cut, wrinkled leaves of dark reddish purple with bronze sheen. Tender annual.